Aglaonema plant named `Black Lance`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema named `Black Lance`particularly characterized by its tall, upright and freely branching plant habit; long and narrow tri-colored leaves centrally marked with two shades of silver green; rapid growth rate; and resistant to diseases common to Aglaonema.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAglaonema plant, botanically known as Aglaonema hybrida, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Black Lance.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Valkaria, Fla. The new cultivar originated from a crossby the inventor between the species Aglaonema simplex as the female, orseed, parent with the nonpatented cultivar Aglaonema hybrida `Ernesto'sFavorite`. The cultivar Black Lance was discovered and selected by theinventor in August, 1988, as a plant within the progeny of the statedcross in a controlled environment in Valkaria, Fla.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by divison Valkaria, Fla., hasshown that the unique features of this new Aglaonema plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation.

The new Aglaonema has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and fertilizer rate,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Zolfo Springs,Fla., under a polypropylene-covered shadehouse and conditions whichclosely approximate those used in horticultural practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Black Lance`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Black Lance` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Plants of the new Aglaonema are relatively tall, upright and freelybranching.

2. The leaves of the new Aglaonema are relatively long and narrow.

3. The abaxial leaf surfaces of plants of the new Aglaonema are markedwith three shades of green. The base color is very dark green and thecenter of the leaf is silver green with lighter silver green chevronswhich follow the primary veins.

4. Plants of the new Aglaonema have a rapid growth rate.

5. Plants of the new Aglaonema are exceptionally resistant to diseasescommon to Aglaonema.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can be compared to plants of the Aglaonemacultivar Rhapsody in Green (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,975)which have a similar leaf color pattern and growth habit. However,leaves of plants of the new Aglaonema are marked with three shades ofgreen, and are much darker green in base color compared to leaves ofplants of the cultivar Rhapsody in Green that have lighter greenbi-colored leaves. In addition, plants of the new Aglaonema are morefreely branching than plants of the cultivar Rhapsody in Green.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typicalsingle plant of `Black Lance` in a 26-cm container about 16 months afterplanting a single four-leaf cutting.

The second photograph comprises a close-up view of the abaxial (left)and adaxial (right) surfaces of a mature leaf and illustrates the detailof the leaf color pattern. Leaf colors in the photographs may appeardifferent from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Aglaonema hybrida cultivar Black Lance.

Parentage:

Seed or female parent.--Aglaonema simplex.

Pollen or male parent.--Aglaonema hybrida `Ernesto's Favorite` (notpatented).

Propagation: Asexual propagation by division or tissue culture.

Plant description:

Plant shape.--Tall, upright and outwardly spreading, symmetrical, denseand freely branching

Growth habit.--Erect when young, becoming more outwardly spreading asleaves develop.

Plant size.--Height: Soil surface to top of leaf canopy: Approximately65 to 72 cm. Soil surface to junction of the petioles of the last twounrolled leaves: Approximately 26 to 32 cm. Width: Approximately 88 to94 cm.

Root description.--Thick white roots with fine laterals.

Stem description.--Upright. Diameter, 5 cm above the soil surface:Approximately 1.5 to 1.7 cm. Internode length, 3 cm above the soilsurface: Approximately 2.1 to 2.2 cm. Color: 147A lightly mottled with147B/147C with areas of 164B/164C.

Petiole description.--following description is based on the fourthexpanded leaf from the apex. Growth pattern: The petiole has fleshyedges extending from the midrib that are referred to as wings. Wingsextend from the base of the petiole to approximately 10 to 12.4 cm belowthe base of the leaf. The wings are about 3 to 4 mm wide midway from thepetiole base to the wing apex. The wing apex is acutely tapered andbecomes flush with the petiole. The petiole follows the stem axis butdiverges from the axis about 19.2 cm to 22.5 cm from the leaf base,forming a horizontal distance from the vertical axis of the stem to theleaf base of 7.2 cm to 12.4 cm. Dimensions: The petiole is straight fromits base to the tip of the wings, and often curved between the tip ofthe wings and the base of the leaf. The petiole is approximately 4 mm to5 mm in diameter midway between the wing apex and the base of the leaf.The petiole is approximately 19.8 cm to 24.8 cm in length from its baseto the base of the leaf. Color: The petiole wings are 147A with smallstreaks of 147D. The petiole midrib is darker than 147B.

Leaf description.--Axillary breaks: There are approximately 16 axillaybreaks with at least one leaf expanded. First leaves will show truecolor and color pattern. Growth Pattern: The leaf is long and narrow inshape with an acute to acuminate apex and an acute base. The margin isentire. The leaf is oriented parallel to the stem axis at the time offull unrolling, changing to approximately 40 to 60 degrees from verticalstem axis as more leaves unroll above it. The midrib is straight. Theleaf blade is fiat from the midrib to the margin and often wavy alongthe margin. Dimensions: For the pot size and growing time indicated, thelargest leaves are approximately 29.5 cm to 32.6 cm long andapproximately 8.4 cm to 9.2 cm wide. Average sized leaves areapproximately 24.8 cm to 26.6 cm long and approximately 5.0 cm to 5.5 cmwide. The leaf blade is leathery in texture with a matte to slightlyglossy surface. Midrib: The midrib is thick and prominent, recessed onthe abaxial leaf surface and prominent on the adaxial surface. Primaryveins: The primary veins are sunken on the abaxial surface and areslightly prominent on the adaxial surface. The primary veins are thesame color as the tissue surrounding them. The leaf blade is convexbetween the primary veins. Pattern: The abaxial leaf surface is markedwith three shades of green. The base color of the leaf is very darkgreen, the center of the leaf is silver green with lighter silver greenchevrons which follow the primary veins. The lighter silver greenchevrons are most obvious on newly emerged leaves, and fade as the leafmatures. The adaxial leaf surface is medium green with pale silver greenmarkings along the primary veins. Color: Mature leaf, abaxial surface:Base color: Much darker than 147A. Silver green central areas: 191A.Lighter silver green chevrons: 191B/191C. Midrib: 191A. Mature leaf,adaxial surface: Base color: Darker than 147B. Pale silver greenmarkings: 147C. Midrib: 146D. Newly opened leaf, abaxial surface: Basecolor: 147A. Silver green central areas: 191A. Lighter silver greenmarkings: 193A. Midrib: 191A. Newly opened leaf, adaxial surface: Basecolor: 147B with pale silver green markings of 147C. Midrib: 146D.

Inflorescence.--Typical of Aglaonema, no commercial significance.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

Aglaonema Black Lance is a freely branching, relatively upright and tallgrowing variety having long narrow tri-colored leaves with a prominentsilver green center and lighter silver green chevrons. Plants of BlackLance have a rapid growth rate, and are exceptionally resistant todiseases common to Aglaonema. These characteristics in combination makeBlack Lance a distinct and unique new cultivar.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant named`Black Lance`, as illustrated and described.